In Voter ID Debate, A Few Go Against Party Lines

Former Democratic Rep. Artur Davis of Alabama is in favor of voter ID laws. He says that over the years there have been numerous allegations of absentee voter fraud — and even a handful of convictions — in Alabama.

Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted says that both parties need to "tone it down." The Republican says he doesn't believe you need to have a voter ID to "provide for voter security."

Jay LaPreteAP

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Originally published on November 2, 2011 5:42 pm

The debate over requiring voters to show photo ID at the polls has been a heated one. Democrats accuse Republicans, who support such laws, of wanting to suppress the votes of minorities, the elderly and the poor. Republicans accuse Democrats, who oppose ID rules, of condoning voter fraud.

It's a sharp partisan divide. But a few people have gone against the tide — and they're getting some political heat for doing so.

A Democrat Criticized For Fraud Concerns

Former Democratic Rep. Artur Davis of Alabama created quite a stir when he wrote a column recently in The Montgomery Advertiser saying that he has changed his mind and now thinks that voter ID requirements are a good thing.

"When I was in office, frankly, as an African-American politician, in a predominately African-American district, it was very easy to look at these issues in a very reflexive kind of way," Davis, now an attorney in Washington, D.C., told NPR. "And to the extent that I did that, that's something that I regret."

Davis says he has come to the conclusion that the inconvenience of requiring voters to show ID at the polls is a small price to pay for clean, transparent elections. And, he says, in parts of rural Alabama that can be a problem.

"If you ever campaigned in those communities, you know that there's a big market for absentee ballots," he says. "You know there's a group of people who will come to you like clockwork a few weeks before the election and say, 'I can get you X number of absentee ballots.' "

Davis says it happened to him and to everyone else who has run for office in those areas. He notes that over the years there have been numerous allegations of absentee voter fraud — and even a handful of convictions — in Alabama.

Davis says the victims of such fraud are African-American voters and candidates who don't game the system.

"It's not that this process is being used to favor white candidates in these communities over black candidates, or vice versa," he says. "It's African-American candidates running against African-American candidates."

But his position is not a popular one. Most Democrats think that African-Americans are hurt the most by the new laws, because they're less likely to have the required photo ID. Opponents of ID laws say that the threat of voter fraud is overblown and actual cases are rare.

And Davis has been challenged in the blogosphere to name names if he has seen fraud firsthand. He says that would be futile — his word against theirs.

He has also been criticized by fellow Democrats. Emanuel Cleaver, chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, says maybe Davis just wants to become a Republican.

Husted knows all too well what it's like not to toe the party line. He came out against, and effectively killed, a GOP-backed bill that would have required voters in his state to show photo ID.

"I don't believe you need to have a photo ID to provide for voter security," Husted says.

He told the Republican-controlled Legislature earlier this year that he would prefer no bill to one that might prevent valid voters from having their ballots count. That position earned him the title of "Ohio's Pro-Fraud Republican" in a Wall Street Journal column.

"I'm for preventing voter fraud," insists Husted. "But I'm also for the disabled Korean War veteran who doesn't drive, who doesn't have access to photo ID, having an easy access to cast that ballot because they too have earned that right."

Husted says there are other ways to verify a voter's identity, including allowing those without ID to provide the last four digits of their Social Security number.

Davis notes that Alabama's new ID law — which still needs to be cleared by the U.S. Justice Department — also includes exceptions for those without photo ID, including allowing them to vote if two election officials can vouch for their identity.

If Davis agrees with Husted on anything, it's that these kinds of nuances have been lost in the debate.

"Voter ID ought to be judged on its merits," Davis says. "Let's try to strip the politics out of it." He notes that Democratic lawmakers in Rhode Island were also criticized for backing a voter ID requirement in that state.

Husted says the last thing his crucial swing state needs in a close election is a controversial voter ID law that might tie up the results.

Husted says it only undermines public confidence in a system that, for the most part, works surprisingly well. And he blames both parties.

"It's really become a tactic of the campaigns to rally the base to complain about the elections process in particular states," he says.

But it's unlikely to end anytime soon. Democrats and Republicans both use the issue to raise funds.

And when a 96-year-old Tennessee woman recently went to her local Department of Motor Vehicles office to get a photo ID — after she was initially denied — she was accompanied by a videographer from the Obama re-election campaign.

Copyright 2013 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.

Transcript

GUY RAZ, HOST:

A debate is raging over new voter ID laws. Democrats accuse Republicans of trying to suppress the votes of minorities, the elderly and the poor. And Republicans accused Democrats of condoning voter fraud. It is a sharp partisan divide.

NPR's Pam Fessler introduces us to two political veterans who have tried to cross that divide and taken plenty of heat for it.

PAM FESSLER, BYLINE: Former Alabama Congressman Artur Davis created quite a stir when he wrote a column recently, saying that he's changed his mind. This Democrat now thinks that voter ID laws are a good thing.

ARTUR DAVIS: When I was in office, frankly, as an African-American politician in a predominately African-American district, it was very easy to look at these issues in a very reflexive kind of way. And to the extent that I did that that's something that I regret.

FESSLER: Now, Davis is an attorney in Washington D.C., and he's come to this conclusion that the inconvenience of requiring voters to show ID at the polls is a small price to pay for clean, transparent elections. And in rural Alabama, that can be a problem.

DAVIS: If you've ever campaigned in those communities, you know there's a big market for absentee ballots. You know, there's a group of people who will come to you like clockwork a few weeks before the election and say, I can get you X number of absentee ballots. Now, first of all...

FESSLER: And that happened to you?

DAVIS: It's happened to everybody who's ever run for office this neck of the woods.

FESSLER: Davis says, if you don't believe him, look at the record, numerous allegations and even a handful of convictions for absentee voter fraud. And he says the victims are African-Americans.

DAVIS: It's not that this process is being used to favor white candidates in these communities over black candidates or vice versa. It's African-American candidates running against African-American candidates.

FESSLER: But his is not a popular position. Most Democrats think it's African-Americans who are hurt by the new laws, that they're less likely to have the required ID and that the threat of voter fraud is overblown. Davis has been challenged in the blogosphere to name names if he's seen fraud firsthand. He says it would be futile, his word against theirs.

Emanual Cleaver, chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, says maybe the former congressman just wants to become a Republican. One Republican has a suggestion.

JON HUSTED: Frankly, both sides need to tone it down.

FESSLER: That's Jon Husted, Ohio's Secretary of State. Husted knows all too well what it's like not to tow the party line. He effectively killed the GOP-backed bill that would have required his state's voters to show photo ID.

HUSTED: I don't believe that you need to have a photo ID to provide for voter security.

FESSLER: Husted told state legislators earlier this year that he'd prefer no bill to one that might prevent valid voters from having their ballots count. It's a position that earned him the title Ohio's pro-fraud Republican in a Wall Street Journal column.

HUSTED: I'm for preventing voter fraud, but I'm also for the disabled Korean War veteran who doesn't drive, who doesn't have access to a photo ID having an easy access to cast that ballot because they, too, have earned that right.

FESSLER: Husted says there are other ways to verify a voter's identity, including requiring those without I.D. to provide a Social Security number. Artur Davis notes that Alabama's law also includes exceptions for those without photo ID, including allowing them to vote if two election officials can vouch for them. If he agrees with Husted on anything, it's that these kinds of nuances have been lost in the debate.

DAVIS: Voter ID ought to be judged on its merits. Let's try to strip the politics out of it.

FESSLER: Husted says that only undermines public confidence in a system that, for the most part, works surprisingly well. And he blames both parties.

HUSTED: It's really become a tactic of the campaigns to rally the base to complain about the elections process in particular states.

FESSLER: But that's unlikely to end anytime soon. Democrats and Republicans both use the issue to raise funds. Recently, a 96-year-old Tennessee woman returned to her local DMV to get a photo ID. after she was initially denied. She was accompanied by a videographer from the Obama reelection campaign.

Pam Fessler, NPR News, Washington.

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